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Burnett makes Pirates history in stellar debut

Burnett makes Pirates history in stellar debut

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PITTSBURGH -- Right-hander A.J. Burnett's stellar Pirates debut in Saturday's 2-0 win over St. Louis showed up on the radar for the Elias Sports Bureau.

Burnett tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and recording seven strikeouts. In doing so, Burnett became the first Pirates hurler since 1907 to pitch at least seven scoreless innings and record at least seven strikeouts in his first start with the club.

The only other Pirates pitcher to accomplish the feat was right-hander Nick Maddox, who tossed a shutout and notched 11 strikeouts in his Major League debut in 1907.

"That's an interesting stat," Burnett said. "It was an interesting first start. The play by Clint Barmes in the first inning really settled me down, and I started getting into a rhythm, but it's just the first one. We've got a ways to go."